Reverse Saddleworth Round

Distance: 16.5 miles
Ascent: 700m
Weather: sunny, chill wind
Goldfinch, hairy caterpillar, small tortoiseshell,  peacock and orange tipped butterflies.
horses: some
donkeys: none

There were beautiful blue skies today, although it wasn't as warm as it looked out of the windows before we set off.  We headed out at about 11ish, along the track and around Brushes Clough. We joined the Tame Valley Way in Denshaw and followed this through Delph, to meet up with the Delph Donkey Trail which STILL HAS NO DONKEYS.

We had our homemade (!) sandwiches at a handy picnic table,  then carried on along the track avoiding the canal by staying on the higher path through the old quarries.

It was quite windy at the top of Wharmton hill,  a good test for my new Barmah hat. We retraced our steps back through Grotton,  Lydgate and Lees - via Strinesdale.

 

 

Hollingworth Lake

Distance: 21 miles
Ascent: 750m
Weather: cloudy,  windy
Nosy cows, heron, common sandpiper,  geese and ducks, swallows, wheatears, cute lambs, Shetland pony foal, short eared owl, very angry dogs, magic cows/horse.

We had second breakfast and delayed setting off until the worst of the rain had stopped. Rob wore his waterproofs for about half the walk, although it didn't rain very hard it was quite drizzly and quite cold in the wind. Plus there's a possibility he's coming down with a cold.

We walked along the track and down through Pingot Quarry,  around the field of cows who came to say hello, and seemed quite keen to come through the gate, and into Newhey to Ogden Reservoirs. We had lunch and did some litter picking, deciding
 there would be a bin at Hollingworth Lake so we went that way. At the lake, we remarked that in all our time here we'd never walked all the way around it,  so we did. We also did a bit of bird watching. There were quite a few people walking around,  but not the crowds you see here on a sunny day.

On the way back under the motorway,  the small herd of cows that had been sitting placidly by the cattle grid had turned into a horse. We went along the valley that runs parallel to the M62 up to the aerial,  following the more sheltered footpath rather than the overused and churned up track.

Over White Hill and round to Readycon Reservoir,  we stopped to put on warm layers as the temperature had dropped noticeably during the day. We also had flapjacks and the last drops of tea. Crossing the road and continuing down to Piethorne,  we then followed the footpath up over Edge Gate to Brushes Clough, where by this time the sun was near setting. We watched an owl hunting and continued down through the trees to the quarry, then back the usual way.

Sunday walk

Distance: a few miles
Ascent:
Weather: sunny, ominous clouds at times

A few hours walk over Bishop's Park,  via the cows near Strinesdale,  Besom Hill and back.

Saddleworth Round

Distance: 16 miles
Ascent: 650m
Weather: sunny
Bears on the Bear Trail: one
Donkeys on the Donkey Trail: none
Shoe faffing: lots

We were late setting off, after a chilled morning,  so bought sandwiches at the Co Op,  which we ate in a nice park in Lees.

We headed around Lydgate, Grotton and Grasscroft (where a very nice lady came out to point out the footpath through her garden as we were hesitating and about to turn back)  then up on to Wharmton hill above Greenfield. 

The hill is a broad grassy expanse, with sheep and a big antenna. Coming down off the other side,  we skirted a golf course and a quarry, to emerge onto the canal. The towpath was busy with families and couples,  we turned off at the bridge near Dobcross and went on to the disused Delph Donkey Line railway up to Delph.

From Delph, we joined the Tame Valley Way along the valley into Denshaw, while discussing house prices, and then up on to Brushes Clough and back along the track.

Carriage House to home

Distance: 12 miles
Ascent: 750m
Weather: very windy,  rain at times

Seen: a shrew!

After a good night's sleep and a great breakfast,  we set off at about 10am. The forecast for today was not good,  with heavy rain and gale force winds. It was definitely windy,  so much that walking in a straight line was impossible at times. Maybe picking a route along Standedge Edge and over White Hill wasn't the most sensible, but it was certainly exhilarating. It became quite unpleasant when the rain started just before we crossed the road at the aerial,  so we decided to head down from there to Piethorne rather than going out to Hollingworth Lake as I'd had in mind to.

The off road vehicles had been out there recently and made a mess, but it has been dry enough lately that it was easy going.

The rain started getting heavier as we came over Brushes Clough, so we stayed low hoping to get a bit of shelter by the trees, and back along the track.

 

 

To The Carriage House

Distance: 13 miles
Ascent:
Weather: sun and clouds,  chill wind
Weasels: 2
Inappropriate behaviour: incredibly

This morning I drove back from my sister's,  and then packed and we had lunch,  setting out on our planned walk at about 1:30pm. We walked up the road to Grains Bar and then over the lane into Delph. The last few times we've gone up to Lark Hill Lane via the road at the end,  so this time we decided to head up the steep rocky track, which is much shorter but more effort. Up on the lane there was a parked car with a couple doing the do, at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon,  on what is most decidedly not a secluded spot. There were at least two mountain bikers and a dog walker up there at the same time as us, so it's an odd place to pick.

We went up the Pennine Bridleway to join the Pennine Way and then along to Black Moss Reservoir,  around Wessenden and Butterley Reservoirs and back along the road to The Carriage House - with dramatic clouds.

Easter Weekend Day Four

Marsden to Oldham
Distance: 14.5 miles
Ascent: 625m
Weather: warm and sunny

After a fantastic stay at The Olive Branch Inn in Marsden, we were well fed and rested. Out the door and straight up the hill this morning, the footpath we'd chosen seemed to have been mostly used by cows, but thankfully it's been dry for the last couple of days so it wasn't too cow-y. I did get brambled though.

We followed the Colne Valley Way around the ridge of the hills, on the edge of the moors - seeing quite a few people out just gazing at the clear blue sky.

We needed to get some food for lunch, so took the steps down from Butterley Reservoir into Marsden village,  and then up to the canal, passing the tunnel's end, and along the nature reserve - where we had elevenses.

The packhorse track is in the process of being paved, there were signs about helicopters, but we didn't see one. There were also signs about keeping dogs on leads, but it seems most people didn't see them either.

At the top of Little Moss we were on the Pennine Way for a very short time. This is also pretty much the border between Yorkshire and Greater Manchester,  stereotypically blue skies over Yorkshire and clag over home. Although during the day the clouds burned off and it is a beautiful evening in Oldham.

We returned via the Pennine Bridleway by Piethorne and Ogden Reservoirs and then Brushes Clough (giddy cows), Lane Side and then along the track.

 

 

Easter Weekend Day Three

Cottonstones to Marsden
Distance: 15.8 miles
Ascent: 750m
Weather: warm and sunny
Butterflies: many
Horses, bunnies and pigs, little lambs

Today we went walking walking, according to the family we passed along the Calderdale Way in the morning. The route was a mix of upland heath, moors, country lanes and fields. We were mainly on well marked trails,  the Calderdale Way,  Kirklees Way and Colne Valley Way but also local footpaths too - with varying degrees of success.

From the Inn, we went down into the valley and up on to Norland Moor, which is very flat and rather muddy about the trig point and very popular with mountain bikers of a Sunday morning. Here we joined the Calderdale Way,  along the side of a thin wood with views over Halifax,  before dropping down into Greetland. The footpath signs disappeared, and Rob decided rather than following the road we should enter a white void, which turned out to be a disused railway line with a rather impressive bridge.

We navigated our way through some urban streets, where it was proven without a doubt that I cannot tell my left from right,  and then we found Hollins Green Lane which headed downhill and then back uphill towards the M62 motorway. We joined the Kirklees Way on to Turley Cote lane, which runs parallel to the motorway, under a ridge which very effectively blocks out the traffic noise. It was quiet and tranquil as we had a sit and some lunch.

It was less quiet and tranquil a little further on, as we crossed the road and roundabout over the motorway at junction 23.

We swapped the Kirklees Way for the Colne Valley Way near to Wilberlee (very barky dogs, thankfully chained up), via Ainley Place (where we had a conversation with a chap who helpfully advised us we were a long way from the footpath, when we were standing in the middle of it them) and then followed lanes and footpaths along to join the canal just outside of Marsden.

 

 

Easter Weekend Day Two

Hebden Bridge to Cottonstones
Distance: 14.5 miles
Ascent: 950m
Weather: dry, warm

Toads: dirty

Cats: in drains

Hebden Bridge is still very hilly. We followed the Pennine Way Loop signs up the other side of the valley, up to the ruined St Thomas a Beckett church in Heptonstall.

There were lots of walkers around,  but we didn't find out if anything was going on. A slippery stone path led down the wooded hillside toward the car park for Hardcastle Crags, with its many visitors.

We continued on along a lot a lane, and then dropped down another slippery path to a waterfall and footbridge.  Here we had some elevenses.

The other side of the valley was more open moorland,  and we followed some clear paths up to High Brown Knoll and
Dimmin Dale on Midgley Moor.

We had lunch on an outcrop overlooking the Calderdale Way,  which we then crossed and went down into Mytholmroyd. Around here the footpath disappeared completely and we had to take a detour around the road and back up the hillside, on to Waterstalls Road green lane, where we met a friendly runner and his dogs, and then some friendly cows and their farmer.

We followed the Calderdale Way on to quiet country lanes and into Cottonstones and the Alma Inn.

Easter Weekend Day One

Newhey to Hebden Bridge
Distance: 15.5 miles
Ascent: 750m
Weather: drizzle, light rain
Lots of gaiter strap faffing
Animals: bizarre

We had breakfast while keeping an eye on the rain. The forecast for today was not good.

Before we left, I attempted to sew up one of the holes in my right shoe with middling results. It was soon obscured by mud anyway.

We called in at the shop for some sandwiches and then headed up the cobbled street passed the church and along a very wet little lane by some farm houses (no angry dogs today) and up on to the moors. Here we joined the Pennine Bridleway,  which we followed for pretty much the rest of the day.

At Summit there is a great little farm which has pigs, goats, peacocks, owls, colourful birds, some white ostrich emu type things, ponies and geese, one of whom was having a bit of a dance.

The rain held off for most of the day and we were able to have a comfortable sit down and lunch somewhere near Halsden,  where we were informed that there were lots of people camping up at the reservoir if we were going that way.  We weren't.

Just outside Hebden Bridge we left the Bridleway and followed the red markers of the Pennine Way Hebden Bridge Loop, which we don't remember ever seeing before.

Easter Weekend Day 0

Oldham to Newhey
Distance: 4 miles
Ascent :
Weather: dry

Set off from home just after six, after some last minute packing and fretting.

Along the track I realised that I have holes in my shoes, but there was no turning back now.

We met a couple of horses along the way,  one was being entertained  and the others weren't keen to come down the muddy slope with us.

We got to the Inn just in time for dinner, and a few pints of Hobgoblin.